Type-writing machine.



UNITED STATES Patented septemberjee, 1903. e'

PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE FREDERICK STIL-LMANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEI/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH PREMIER TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,623, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed J une 14, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK' STILLMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, and. a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certainnew anduseful IniprovementsinTypel/Vriting Machines, 0f which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to type-bar bearings ro of writing-machines; and its main object is to provide a simple and effective ball-bearing joint, but so thin that a large number of'bars maybe arrangedin alimited space and guided accurately-*to the printing-center. Other ob. jects will appear hereinafter.

My invention consists in certain combinations of devices, features of construction, and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the concluding claims.

In the accompanying drawin gs, Figure 1 is a front view of a part of the type-bar system of a front-'strike writing-machine, one typebar being shown in printing position and anothertype-bar being shown in cross -section in normal position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a type-bar mounted upon a segment, the latter being shown in cross-section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View showing details of a hanger and a ball-spacer. Iiig.v a' is an enlarged sectional edge view of a type-bar and hanger. Fig. 5 is a greatly-enlarged sectional edge View of the type-bar joint and illustrating the cupping of the type-bar plates, 35 which it is not possible to show in the other smaller views.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar numerals of reference'.

The blank for the type -bar is punched in 15, Working upon the body of the rivet 9.

6 near the socket and by top and bottom `riv- Serial No. 64.505. (No model-l ets 7 at the hub end of the bar. The shank portions 2 abut throughout their length; but the hub portions or plates 1 are offset from the Shanks, so as to form a fork.

The hub-plates 1 are pressed or stamped inwardly, so as to forrn upon their outer sides circular depressions 8, which are centrally perforated to receive a short connecting-rivet or other fastener 9 and so as also to form upon their inner sides cones 10, which are arranged' in opposition to each other and cooperate to form a peripheral V-shaped groove-like ballbearing.

The hanger or support for the type-bar comprises a disk 11, which is conined between the hubplates 1 and provided with a central perforation or eye 12, upon whose edge is formed an interior ballbearing` V -groove 13, which cooperatesl with the peripheral V- bearing in the type-bar hub to form a race- Way for a series of balls la, which are preferably equally spaced by a notched separator n assembling the parts the type-bar, the hanger,

Vthe balls, and the separator are all arranged in the relationship shown, and then the shank of the rivet is pressed through the perforations in the type-bar, hanger, and separator until its head comes to a bearing against the outer side of one of the cheek-plates of the type-bar. Then the projecting end of the' shank is spun or upset over the edge of the perforation in the other or opposite cheek-V plate or hub until a sufficiently-tight fit of the balls in the raceway is obtained. By means 0f this construction the type-bar is rigidly held against lateral vibration and at the same' time f is enablec'l to swing freely to the printing-point, while the width of the hub or bearing is reduced to a minimum, so/that a large number of type-bars may be assembled in a limited space. B y pressing the hubplates of the type-bars so as to forni` the desired peripheral ballbearing surfaces or grooves the construction-of` the joint is greatly simplified, while owing to the springiness of said hub-plates the hanger, the balls, and the separator may 'be readily introduced. Moreover, by forming a portion of the hub 0r peripheral bearing upon each side portion of a cleft type-bar I am enabled to employ the insertedv ball-spacer 15, which is a desideratum, as thereby the balls may be reduced in number, preferably to the three.

In practice the rivet 9 is tightened enough to cause a slight cupping of the thin plates of the type-bar hub, the bearing portions of the cones being forced toward each other slightly, andV hence crowding the balls outwardly toward the base of the groove in the eye of the hanger. The purpose of producing this cupping or iiexure of the hub-plates is to produce a spring tension of the plates,

whereby the cones are caused to tend con-V stantly toward each other, so that wear of the joint may be automatically taken up as it occurs. If the joint should ever become too much worn to be compensated by such spring or tension of the plates, the rivet 9 may be given a few blows by a hammer, so as to draw the plates closer together, thus both taking up the existing slack and also springing o1` clipping the plates anew, so as to take up subsequent wear automatically. It will be understood that any other tightener may be employed in place of the rivet 9.k

The base of the hanger, which is designated as 1G, is united to the disk or eye portion 11 thereof by an arm or neck 17, which is curved or recessed at 18 to form a clearance for the head of a link 19, whose forward end is connected to a key-operated lever. (Not shown.) 1The hanger-bases 1G are inserted in slots 20, cut radially in a segment 21. The latter is provided with a cover-plate 22, permanently fastened by rivets 23. The hangers are inserted endwise into the rectangular apertures -formed by the cooperation of the slots with the cover-plate and are retained by set-screws i 24, tapped into thelatter and bearing against the front edges of the hangers, which fit snugly in the slots and are adjustable radi- -ally therein. It willbe seen that the interiorly-grooved eye in the hanger is embraced by the cleft hub portion of the type-bar; that opposing cones are formed integrally upon the type-bar and connected by the rivet 9 that a series of bearing-balls runsV in the race formed by the cooperation of said cones with said interior groove; that the eye portion of the hanger surrounds the cones of the typebar; that the type-bar is formed of opposing plates, preferably formed in one piecc, the fold being preferably at the type-bearing end of the type-bar; that the sides of the typebar are springy, and hence may be drawn together by the rivet 9 or other suitable device` until the requisite fit of the joint is secured; that the hub-plates of the type-bar are preferably offset from the shank portions, the

` purpose of oifsetting them being to separate the hub-plates, so as to permit the introduction of the hanger; that the type-bar comprises contiguous twin plates secured together and having at one end a type-socket and at the other end cones pressed in the metal of the type-bar, so as to form a ballgroove, and that the transverse connector 9 is arranged Vcentrally or at the aXcs of the cones.

type-bar at the'point of connection with the hanger, and that each type-bar has two circular oppositely-arranged cup-like portions with oppositely-fiaring rims or anges 10, that form a V-shaped ball-bearin g raceway around the webs or body portions of said cups, and that the cups or cones are adapted to be flexed to maintain a pressure on the bearing-balls to automatically compensate for wear upon the parts.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of ahan ger, a type-bar, one of said members being formed of sheet metal and comprising two circular oppositelyarranged cup-like portions having oppositely- .daring rims or iianges to form a raceWay around the webs or body portions of said cups, a transverse fastening uniting said webs or body portions and the other one of said members having an intern ally-grooved eye portion surrounding said cup-like portions and a set of bearing-balls.

2. The combination of ahanger, atype-bar, one of said parts being formed of folded sheet metal having pressed therein opposing cuplike cones, and the other of said parts having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a setof bearingballs, and a transverse fastener for said cones.

3. The combination of a hanger and a typebar, one of said parts being formed of opposing plates and said` plates having pressed therein opposing cup-like cones, and the other of said parts having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-balls, and a transverse fastener whose ends or heads are seated in the depressed portions of the cup-like cones.

4. The combination of a hanger, a type-bar, one of said parts having springy sides and said sides having pressed therein opposing cones, and the other of said parts having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-balls, and a transverse fastener which is caused to draw said cones together and place them under spring tension so as to produce the requisite fit of the joint and compensate for wear upon the parts. Y

5. The combination of a hanger, a type-bar, one of said parts having springy sides and said sides having pressed therein opposing cones and also being provided with perforal'IO tions, and the other of said Vparts having an interiorlygrooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-ballsJ and a rivet, one of Whose heads is drawn or spun over the edge of a perforation so as to draw the cones together and place them under spring tension which is exerted on the bearing-balls and produce the requisite iit of the joint.

G. The combination of a hanger having an interiorly-grooved eye, a type-bar having at one end a type-socket and at the other end a' cleft hub portion provided with opposin g thin sheetmetal cup -like cones which are surrounded by said eye, means for connecting said cones7 and a set of bearing-balls.

7. The combination of a hanger having` an eye provided With an interior groove, a cleft type-bar embracing the eye, opposing cones formed integrally upon the cleft portion of the type-bar3 means for connecting the cones, and a series of bearing-balls running in the race formed by the cooperation of said cones with said interior groove.

S. The combination of a type-bar formed of folded sheet metal and having offset hubplates in which are pressed opposing cup-like cones, a hanger having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-balls, and a transverse fastener for said cones.

9. The combination of-a type-bar formed from a transversely-folded strip and having a type -socket formed by the fold, opposing cup-like cones being pressed in the hub portions of the type-bar, a hanger having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-balls, and means for connecting thecones.v

10. The combination of a type-bar having a cleft springy hub portion in which are pressed opposing cup -like cones, a hanger having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-balls, and a transverse fastener which is Caused to dranr said cones together so as to produce the requisite iit of the joint.

1l. A type-bar formed from a sheet-metal strip transversely folded and having a typesocket formed by the fold, the shank portions of the strip abutting and the ends of the strip being odset so as to form separate hub-plates, and said plates being formed with circular depressions 8 and outwardly-flaring circular ball-bearings 10 and having atransverse connector.

12. A type-barformed from folded sheet metal and having offset hub-plates, Which are formed With circular rdepressions 8 and out- Wardly-iiaring circular ball-bearings 10.

13. A type-bar comprising contiguous twin plates secured together and having at one end a type-socket and at the other end circular depressions 8 and outwardly-flaring circular ball-bearings 10, the portions S being arranged close together and riveted centrally of the length of the type-bar and the portions 10 extending outwardly therefrom on'opposite sides. f

14E. A blanl; for a folded type-bar consisting of hub-plates at the ends thereof, ribbed vShanks, and a socket portion, said hub-plates being offset lfrom the Shanks and having-two reversely-arranged cup-like portions with out-'- .mounted upon said connector.

1G. The combination of a-sheet-metal typebar having pressed in its sides a pair of opposing cup-like ball-bearing cones,- a central connector for said cones, a hanger having an interiorly --grooved eye surrounding said cones, a set of bearingballs, a ballspacer mounted upon said connector.

17.. The combination of a hanger and typebar, one of said parts being formed of sheet metal and having opposing cones, and the other of said parts having an interiorlygrooved eye portion surrounding said cones, a set of bearing-balls, and a device for causing said cones to spring toward each other so 'as to take up automatically the Wear of the joint. l

18. The combination of a hanger and a type- -bar, one of said parts being formednf` thin sheet metal and having pressed therein opposing cones, and the other of said parts having an interiorlygrooved eye portion surrounding said oones, a set of bearing-balls, and a transverse device arranged axially of said cones and serving to cup or spring said cones toward reach other.

19. The combination of a hanger and typebar, one of said parts being formed of sheet metal andhaving opposing cones and the other of said parts having an interiorly-grooved eye portion surrounding said cones, and a set of bearing-balls; the said opposing cones having a normal spring tension toward each other and acting to force the balls outwardly toward the base of the groove in the surround-ing eye portion and so that should Wear occur said cones may under the said tension automatically approach each other so as to compensate for said wear.

20. The combination of a hangerand typebar, one of said parts being formed of sheet metal and having opposing cones and the other of said parts having an interiorlygrooved eyeportion surrounding said cones, an intermediate set of bearing-balls, kand means for imparting to said cones a spring tension toward each other after theassembla-ge of the parts, whereby said cones may IEC IIO

alitomatieally approach each other and take cones to have a normal spring tension toward up any Wear in the balls or bearings that may each other so as to enable them automatically subsequently occur during use. to approach each other when Wear oeonrs.

2l. The combination of a hanger having an Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onon- 5 interiorly-grooved eye portion, a sheet-metal daga and State of New York, this 8th day of 15 type-bar having opposing cones formed in- June, A. D. 1901.

tegrally therewith, a set of balls arranged to GEORGE FREDERICK STILLMAN bear on said cones and in said grooved eye Witnesses: portion, and a transverse rivet adapted, after WVILBERT L.. SMITH,

10 assemblage of the parts, to cause the said CLARA M. STEVENS. 

